WSS Today

This organization’s articles contain the essence of its responsibilities: the promotion of both religious and secular Spiritism, as well as the relief of poverty; this society has also become a registered charity under these specific objectives. Its members should support these basic objectives, and its directors should agree with these objectives wholeheartedly. This society should always continue to pursue these objectives no matter who is on the board, in order to best assist the community as a whole.

These three objectives are considered essential to this organization’s core being: the society needs to welcome those who are religious as well as those who are not, in a way that speaks to them, as best it can. Those religious may not be able to connect with strongly secular groups, just as those secular may not be able to connect with strongly religious groups, but our society is meant to be common ground between those hoping to work together. The relief of poverty is included to ensure our society is always providing structured opportunities to do charity, to strengthen its spiritual defences.

This society has officially endorsed courses from both Aliança Espírita Evangélica and Federação Espírita Brasileira, as these methodologies have been found in harmony with this society’s core objectives, and to be of good quality; these courses will hopefully allow our members to learn and grow in Spiritist knowledge while keeping in harmony with this society and its goals.

Members of WSS should be those who agree with this society’s objectives; This is because members have a vote: they have a say in how the society is run.

Members are required to attend regularly, to ensure they remain connected with the society. For the small Spiritist community here in Winnipeg, the board decided on requiring attendance at two events or meetings per month. The members themselves, as a whole, may decide to alter this at a later date, depending on the growth of the organization.

Members are also required to volunteer in some way to help out the society, whether it be on a committee, helping out in a defined role at our events, or as an officer in the society. This is to ensure that only those putting effort into helping the organization have a say in how it is run.

The clear benefit to being a member is the right to vote: to be an active part of this endeavour guided by those spirits assisting this society to be born and grow, in hopes of sharing Spiritist kinship and teachings with any inspired to seek them out, in higher hopes of fulfilling the plan of the enlightened spirits here in Winnipeg.

This right to vote is also a responsibility, as it is up to the members as a whole to ensure the board and its officers are behaving as they should, in the best interests of this society, in pursuit of its core objectives as stated in the articles. The members hold the true power in this organization, as should be in any true society, and the bylaws have been arranged to ensure this.

So, how can our society become a common ground for all Spiritists, whether religious or not? Firstly, we need to find common ground. The answer won’t be found in simply affiliating with any religious methodology; it also won’t be found in simply becoming secular; either of these options would separate the society from much of the community. But all Spiritists—at least those of the Codification, as this society represents—can agree on studying Kardec’s books. All Spiritists can agree that doing charity strengthens and protects us. All Spiritists can agree that along with charity, guided group study, self-reflection, and self-improvement are key to reaching a point where we can work together in more advanced Spiritist activities. All the pieces are all right here: we just need to do some work to put them in place. With patience, and with perserverence, we can work together to make this happen. If we can’t work together as Spiritists, what is the point of even studying Spiritism? What hope does Spiritism have of helping anyone, let alone helping to bring about global regeneration?

This society belongs not to the directors, but to all of its membership, which will hopefully grow to represent a common union intent on helping this great and varied community. Not only the Spiritist community here in Winnipeg, but the whole vibrant Winnipeg community, with so many different peoples and cultures living together. In fact, this location is perfect: if we can build what we are hoping here, and our efforts grow to be respected and welcomed by the community, there is no limit to what this society might become, what light this union of souls might help bring to this world.

And so, we the board hope we can learn to work together as one—all of us—holding in our hearts the ultimate goal all Spiritism has been passed down to help the people of this world bring about. All the pieces are right here in our hands: we just need to do some work, but we can do this together.

(Excerpt from the message from the board on April 24, 2022)